WRX Intercooler top mount Q
#3
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There was a brilliant feature in Jan07 edition of Japenese Performance where they tested 4 different intercoolers on an 03 WRX. Slighty modded.
See if you can back order an issue or check ebay. Or steal or borrow someones wortha read. Basically they ran 4 different intercoolers first off using stock boost levels then by using the maximum safe level the ECUTECK computer calculated and they measured the temp.
Heres a brief summary of what they did, lifted straight from the mag.
The standard Subaru
Cheap aftermarket
Hyperflow top mount
Scoobyclinic front mount
Results
The standard intercooler
Max Power 307.8bhp
Max Torque 284lb
Peak Temp 60.0deg
Cheap Aftermarket (£300 ebay special)
Max Power 307.9bhp
Max Torque 275lb
Peak Temp 51.1deg
Hyperflow Top Mount
Max Power 313.5bhp
Max Torque 288lb
Peak Temp 26.5deg
Front Mount
Max Power 322bhp
Max Torque 302lb
Peak Temp 16.3deg
The Verdict
'So what did we learn? The standard Impreza WRX intercooler is marginal on inlet temperature when the boost is turned up beyond stock levels so replacing it should be a priority.However, swapping it for a larger low budget top-mount unit looks to be a complete waste of time: although it pegged back the inlet temperature slighty it had such an inefficient core that power and torque were actually worse than standard'.
Bacically they say a front mount is best but if you want a top mount one don't be cheap as you get what you pay for. Pretty obvious really.
Hope this helps
See if you can back order an issue or check ebay. Or steal or borrow someones wortha read. Basically they ran 4 different intercoolers first off using stock boost levels then by using the maximum safe level the ECUTECK computer calculated and they measured the temp.
Heres a brief summary of what they did, lifted straight from the mag.
The standard Subaru
Cheap aftermarket
Hyperflow top mount
Scoobyclinic front mount
Results
The standard intercooler
Max Power 307.8bhp
Max Torque 284lb
Peak Temp 60.0deg
Cheap Aftermarket (£300 ebay special)
Max Power 307.9bhp
Max Torque 275lb
Peak Temp 51.1deg
Hyperflow Top Mount
Max Power 313.5bhp
Max Torque 288lb
Peak Temp 26.5deg
Front Mount
Max Power 322bhp
Max Torque 302lb
Peak Temp 16.3deg
The Verdict
'So what did we learn? The standard Impreza WRX intercooler is marginal on inlet temperature when the boost is turned up beyond stock levels so replacing it should be a priority.However, swapping it for a larger low budget top-mount unit looks to be a complete waste of time: although it pegged back the inlet temperature slighty it had such an inefficient core that power and torque were actually worse than standard'.
Bacically they say a front mount is best but if you want a top mount one don't be cheap as you get what you pay for. Pretty obvious really.
Hope this helps
#6
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well that hyperflow tmic was hardly better off and the intake temps was alot less than the standard tmic, i have a 02 wrx tmic fitted to my catalunya but have the added advantage of alcohol flowing through her vains
when i got it remapped by paul he said it nearly halved my intake temps and when he last mapped it he made it cut in at 11psi where as before it was coming in at 15 psi, when fitted with some headers and an up pipe (heat wrapped) i got an extra 18 bhp and around 9lbs of torque but an extra 25bhp at the wheels, but im sure the torque reading aint right but hey ho
![Notworthy](https://www.scoobynet.com/images/smilies/notworthy.gif)
when i got it remapped by paul he said it nearly halved my intake temps and when he last mapped it he made it cut in at 11psi where as before it was coming in at 15 psi, when fitted with some headers and an up pipe (heat wrapped) i got an extra 18 bhp and around 9lbs of torque but an extra 25bhp at the wheels, but im sure the torque reading aint right but hey ho
![Smile](https://www.scoobynet.com/images/smilies/smile.gif)
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